Anne Katrine Pagsberg1, 2 & Per Hove Thomsen3, 4 1) Børne- og Ungdomspsykiatrisk Center, Forskningsenheden, Region Hovedstadens Psykiatri
2) Det Sundhedsvidenskabelige Fakultet, Københavns Universitet
3) Børne- og Ungdomspsykiatrisk Center, Aarhus Universitetshospital
4) Institut for Klinisk Medicin, Aarhus Universitet
Ugeskr Læger 2017;179:V05170355
Off-label prescription of psychopharmacological drugs for children and adolescents
Despite regulatory initiatives, psychopharmacological treatment of adolescents is challenged by missing trial data on efficacy and safety. An estimated mean off-label prescription rate of 30-40% in Danish clinical child- and adolescent mental health services (MHS) has been found. Lowest rates were found for ADHD drugs (2-3%) and highest for antipsychotics (96%) and melatonin (100%). The use of melatonin is growing, while the use of other psychopharmacological drugs seems stabilizing or decreasing in spite of more adolescents treated in Danish MHS.